Gate or door latch



June 19, 1951 1:). JAMES GATE 0R DOOR LATCH Filed Npv. 2'7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor June 19, 1951 D. JAMES GATE 0R DOOR LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1946 Inventor L aremza Jm ea Attoneys Patented June 19, 1951 GATE OR DOOR LATCH Lorenzo D. James, Bellflower, Califl, assignor of one-half to George W. Williams, Bellflower,

Calif.

Application November 27, 1946, Serial No. 712,718

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in latch'mechanisms and more particularly to a device of this character adapted for use with doors, gates or similar closures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a latch mechanism behind which a rigid latch bar is adapted for automatic engagement behind a pivoted latch plate for securing a gate or door in closed position together with means for raising the latch plate from the opposite side of the gate or door to release the latch bar.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically securing the latch plate in a raised position out of contact with the latch bar when the door or gate is in its open position.

. l A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in operative position and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing a gate secured in closed position by the latch;

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation showing the gate initially opened; 7

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the mounting bracket for the pivoted latch plate;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing the gate in closed position;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the latch plate locked in unlatching position after the gate has been opened;

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the latch plate in unlatching position;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 5 with the ring shown in broken lines;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the latch plate, and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the plunger and head.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate a pair of gate posts with a gate 1 hinged to the post 5 by conventional hinge members 8.

A rigid latch bar 9 projects horizontally from one side of a plate Ill which is attached to the free edge of the gate 1 at the rear side thereof by bolts or the like II with the latch bar projecting outwardly beyond the edge of the gate.

An attaching plate I2 is secured by bolts 12a to the side of the post 6 against which the free end of the gate abuts, the plate l2 having an opening I3 therein in the lower portion of which is welded or otherwise suitably secured the ends of a U-shaped bracket I4 projecting horizontally from the plate I2. A pin I5 extends transversely through the bracket I4 adjacent its outer end.

A flat latch plate I6 includes a narrow end I! having an opening I8 for pivotally mounting on the pin I5 for swinging of said plate vertically, the latch plate also including a wide free rear end I9 having its edge rounded as shown at 20 and engaging the latch bar 9 when the gate I is closed. The wide rear end I9 of the latch plate is formed above the rounded edge 20 with an eye 2I in which an oval shaped ring 22 is pivotally connected to swing vertically about an axis transverse to said plate I6. Below said edge 20 the latch plate I6 is formed with a lower rear corner notch I9a, one side of which forms a vertically arcuate cam l9b on said plate, both the notch I9a and said cam I9b being disposed below the bracket I4 when the gate 1 is latched.

The post 6 is formed with a transverse bore 23 terminating in chambers 24 and 25 at opposite sides of the post, the chamber 24 being positioned behind the plate I2. A plunger 26 is slidably mounted in the bore 23 to the front end of which is secured a head 21 slidable in the opening I3 and having flat sides and a bifurcated front end 28 and which has its front edge inclined as shown at 29 to form a cam at the front end of the head. The lower edge of the cam 29 terminates in a flat fork 30 adapted to straddle the latch plate I6 and to underlie the lower edge of the ring 22 in the normal, latching, position of the latch plate I6 and of the plunger 26 and whereby the latch plate I6 is supported in latching position with the ring 22 extending forwardly and resting on the bracket I4. The head 21 being adapted to move through the opening I3 in the plate I2 and on the upper edge of the bracket I4 when the plunger 26 is operated.

The rear end of the plunger 26 is formed with a push button 3| behind which is a coil spring 32 positioned in the chamber 25 to project the push button outwardly at the rear of the post 6 and to retract the head 21 in the chamber 24.

In the operation of the device, with the latch bar 9 and latch plate I6 mounted respectively to the gate 1 and post 6 in the manner as illustrated, the lower edge of the latch plate 16 will project below the bracket 14 so that the latch bar will ride under the plate during closing of the gate and the latch plate will drop in front of the latch bar 9 to lock the gate as shown in Figure with the rounded edge 20 engaging said bar and the notch [9a and cam l 9b in front of and below the top edge of said bar 9.

In order to open the gate 1 from the front outer side thereof the latch plate l6 may be lifted by the ring 22.

To open the gate 1 from the rear, inner side thereof, the plunger 26 is pushed inwardly, and forwardly, by the push button 31. This causes the inclined cam edge 29 of the head 21, by engagement with the ring 22, to cam the latch plate [6 upwardly partway toward unlatching position and so as to lift the notch I901. to a height such that the latch bar 9 may be engaged with the cam 19b by initial opening movement of the gate 1. At the same time, the inclined cam edge 29 rotates the ring 22 upwardly and rearwardly, by frictional engagement therewith, into a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position of rest against the plate 12, as shown in Figure 7. The push button 3i is now held forward to prevent retraction of the plunger 26, as shown in Figure 7. The gate 1 is now initially opened, whereupon the latch bar 9 will engage the cam I92) and lift the,

latch plate l9 into unlatching position as shown in Figure 3 and momentarily prevent said plate from descending. In this position of said plate I6, the ring 22 is free to drop behind said plate 16, if the push button 3| is released to permit retraction of the plunger 26, as shown in Figure 3, to be lowered by downward swinging of the latch plate 16, after the latch bar 9 has released said plate, and onto the front end 30 of said head 21, thereby locking the latch plate I6 up in unlatching position, as shown in Figure 6. After the operator passes through the opened gate, the ring 22 may be manually swung upwardly and forwardly to permit the latch plate l6 to assume normal latching position and with the ring 22 resting on the bracket l4 and the front end 30 of ,said head 21.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a latch for securing to a gate post the vertical free edge of a hinged gate swingable forwardly and rearwardly into open and closed positions respectively, a horizontal latch bar fixed to said gate to swing therewith and having a latching end extending outwardly of said edge of the gate, a horizontal forwardly extending bracket fixed to said post to extend across the free edge of the gate and over said latching end in the closed position of the gate, a transverse pivot pin on said bracket, an upright latch plate swingable downwardly on said pin in front of said latching end under the influence of gravity into latching position and swingable upwardly clear of said latching end into unlatching position, said plate having a free rear end edge disposed in front of and engaging said latching end to latch the gate closed in the latching position of said plate, a vertical arcuate cam edge on said free end of said plate spaced forwardly of said latching end in the latching position of said plate and engageable by said latching end to swing said plate into latching position upon initial opening of said gate and swinging of said plate upwardly partway toward latching position, a horizontal plunger in said post above said bracket slidable forwardly and spring tensioned for normal retraction, a forked front end head on said plunger straddling said rear end of said plate in the latching position of the plate, a member on said plate resting on said forked front end to establish the latching position of said plate when said plunger is retracted, and an upwardly inclined cam portion on said head rearwardly of said forked front end camming said member upwardly to swing said plate partway into latching position upon forward sliding of said plunger.

2. In a latch according to claim 1, said member comprising a ring rotatably mounted in said plate for upward swinging past a vertical position to drop onto said forked front end and support said plate in unlatching position when the plunger is retracted, said cam portion moving under said ring in frictional engagement therewith to rotate the ring past vertical position when said plunger is slid forwardly.

LORENZO D. JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 128,075 Sharp June 18, 1872 207,823 Shellhous'e Sept. 10, 1878 1,324,428 Mair Dec. 9, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,197 Australia Nov. 9, 1935 of 1935 179,294 Great Britain May 2, 1922 

